Channels with Peter Kafka Almost Everyone is Taking Money from OpenAI. Why is Ziff Davis suing them?
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Oct 1, 2025 Vivek Shah, CEO of Ziff Davis and a leader in digital media strategy, discusses his company's unique stance against OpenAI amidst widespread publisher partnerships. He explores the impact of AI on publisher traffic and the challenges posed by Google. Shah shares insights on Ziff Davis's disciplined acquisition strategy and the importance of diversifying their portfolio to combat disruption. Tune in for a nuanced perspective on copyright issues, potential lawsuits, and the evolving landscape of digital publishing.
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Scale And Profitability Matter
- Ziff Davis is a diversified digital media and software owner that grew by acquisitions to $1.4B revenue and $500M adjusted EBITDA.
- Vivek Shah emphasizes scale and profitability as differentiators versus many struggling pure-play publishers.
Zero-Click Search Is Not New
- Shah sees zero-click search as an ongoing trend that predates AI and Google’s recent changes.
- He argues publishers have adapted to platform shifts and search is important but not everything.
Only ~15% Revenue From Search
- Ziff Davis estimates about 15% of its revenues depend on the search-to-site traffic model.
- Shah calls that meaningful but intentionally diversified, not an existential majority dependency.